Before school, at lunchtime and on any afternoon, after lessons have ended, pupils have access to a wide range of different clubs and activities. At least 75% of pupils regularly attend an extra-curricularactivity. Sports and Arts activities aside, pupils can go along to very diverse recreations, from Bag Printing to Chess and from Cookery to Creative Writing to mention but a few. Many of these clubs are well resourced with equipment provided by fundraising events and the school fund.

Please click here for the after school clubs timetable.

Charters firmly believes that these additional activities are central to the
education of the young people at the school, providing them with a range of opportunities for achievement and to develop the skills necessary to work effectively as part of a team and as a leader. Accordingly, the school subsidises a late bus service for pupils who take part in extra-curricular activities.

The Ofsted inspectors identified as an outstanding feature of the school’s provision, the extensive range of academic clinics and revision clubs that run at certain times during the year to supplement pupils’ work in lessons and to provide support with examination courses. Lunchtime is also a busy time at Charters when not only recreational activities take place but a homework club for year 7 pupils runs to help them with this aspect of school life.

Parents are particularly appreciative of the varied range of residential experiences offered to pupils, including Tirabad, foreign exchange visits to France and Spain, in addition to the yearly ski trips and watersports trips abroad.

THE ARTS
The school is very strong in the expressive arts of Music, Drama and Art and in 2006 achieved the prestigious Artsmark Gold award. This was partly given in recognition of the variety of extra-curricular avenues available to our pupils to experience the excitement and satisfaction of performance and display. Vocal groups, instrumental groups and drama clubs meet together regularly during the year. This work finds an outlet in the annual school production giving large numbers of actors, musicians, technicians and many other helpers from all years the chance to participate in a largescale professional event. There are also many other events such as the Arts Soiree, Summer Art Show, Celebration for Christmas, Charterstock, the Dance Evening and numerous musical concerts that give our young people the chance to showcase their talents. Their productions and concerts take place regularly during the year and are well attended by pupils, parents and the community.

THE HOUSE SYSTEM
Upon entry to the school each pupil is allocated to a House. This then becomes the focus for many extra-curricular competitions in sport, arts events, general knowledge quizzes, public speaking events and numerous other activities. All pupils enjoy the opportunity to participate in these activities with people from other year groups and younger children gain particular benefit from working with older role models.

SPORT
The school, as befits a Specialist Sports College, has extensive facilities including the community recreation centre allowing use of the weights room, dance studio, squash courts and multi-purpose sports hall where five-a-side football, basketball, badminton and indoor cricket take place amongst many other activities. The outdoor pitches and hard play areas/tennis courts are well maintained and are enhanced by the provision of an Astroturf floodlit pitch and extensive grass playing fields. Links with a local school also give us access to swimming facilities. A full programme of sports clubs operates throughout the year before school, at lunchtime and after school. Whatever your child’s interest and ability level, there will be an opportunity to participate, whether for fun or more competitively, from House Matches to Inter School and District Level, County or National Level. There are teams for numerous sports at all age groups.

Please click here for the after-school sports clubs timetable.

CHARTERS YOUTH AND COMMUNITY PROJECT
This organisation runs a Youth Club for young people in the 11 to 21 age group at their clubhouse on site, and liaises closely with a school representative to ensure that the club runs in an appropriate way to meet the needs of the young people who attend.